Asda expands

With more than 525 stores across the UK and over 160,000 members of staff, Asda is a leading retailer providing customers with good quality products at competitive prices.

Asda has stores dotted around the UK, ranging from large superstores to more traditional-sized supermarkets and has a reputation for providing customers with great service.

In February 2015, Asda announced plans to expand its current portfolio, by investing £600m in its business, opening 17 new supermarkets in the process. The scheme is an important step for Asda and will see the retailer expand operations with the new stores looking to open in the London and South East areas of the country.

Asda’s expansion will see the creation of six large superstores, 11 regular supermarkets and 36 new petrol stations. In addition, the retailer will be giving 62 of its existing stores a makeover, with plans to open more grocery pick-up points. Asda’s plans include bringing a number of smaller stores to the market, to reflect current buying habits whereby customers shop little, but more often.

Already recognised for its low prices, Asda also plans to implement a series of price cuts over the next four years, designed to provide customers with better value products. The cuts are in addition to the £300m worth of price cuts introduced last year.

Asda’s Director of Store Development, Craig Bonnar, said:

“We have set out a clear five-year strategy which includes expanding further into London and the South East, and we anticipate this will include opening 150 petrol stations and 1,000 Click and Collect sites by 2018.

“Customers tell us that a convenient and great value shopping experience is important to them.”

Whilst the Asda roll-out takes place, the retailer will continue to provide the high levels of service that its customers have come to expect, including contributing to the local community. The company contributes in several ways such as supporting and fundraising for local and national charities and volunteering and getting involved with local community projects.

Asda also regards the environment as an important issue and follows certain sustainability strategies in order to protect the planet as best as possible. Asda are trying their best to cut back the energy they use, as well as reduce their carbon usage across existing and new stores, their depots and the company transport fleet. The company is using more natural light in stores in a bid to cut the energy used in stores as well as using renewable energy to power their new low carbon stores.

As part of the Walmart Group the Asda team is reducing CO2 across their global supply chain. Asda are also lessening their road miles and becoming more travel savvy switching from road to rail, and have new double deck trailers to carry larger quantities of products.

The Asda team is also very aware of tackling the issue of food waste and is working hard to ensure nothing is squandered. The organisation are proud of managing to stop almost 97% of waste being thrown away and have also co-chaired the IGD working group seeking to reduce supply chain waste.

Asda have set up a project with FareShare, the national charity committed to fighting hunger. In light of this the supermarket chain sends surplus stock from their distribution centres to FareShare depots. From there, they can be distributed to over 900 charities, where it’s cooked and served to people who really need it, meaning that perfectly good food does not go to waste.

For further information about Asda and to look at the range of products available from the retailer, please visit: www.asda.com.